2347.133.12
Now we are safely returned to Bedriften I will write my account of our final hours on IRS 37.
We finally reached the central core of the station but could not enter due to another forcefield; we set the Hacker to work in breaching the defences whilst Chief Ageson and I observed and made plans.
To the centre of the room was a large computational area which seemed to contain a holographic image which we now know was the primary operating system for Station as well as the Cybermen– we dubbed her ‘Missy’.
She was protected by 4 unidentified Cybermen, a large robot which appeared to be currently inactive and 4 of the standard Cybermen we had encountered earlier.
The room also contained four Cyber Spawning Pods, three exit doors and numerous items of interest spread among the machines.
Our initial plan was to grab some loot, get to the exits and get back to Bedriften, but as the Hacker completed his work her crew called to report that the central computer had been compromised and they were dead in the water.
Worse, a Cybership was preparing to launch from the Station.
Destroying Missy became essential for the Bedriften to survive.
We planned to lure the guards away from the hologram, activate the Emergency EMP and, if possible, escape.
If escape proved impossible then I would be the shortest serving Captain she had ever had.
Entry to the room was difficult as the force field was sporadic in it’s operation – we got through as and when we could, sometimes singly, sometime a few of us.
5 of us initially got through before it reactivated and it took 3 cycles before all of us were in the room.
By this time the Spawning Pods had deposited numerous Cybermen and we were fighting a losing battle.
Our junior Chiseler, Aelson, headed into the central computer room while we engaged the 14 or so Cybermen, where he quickly unlocked the EMP and made good his escape. I have entered his name into the log for commendation and intend to promote him forthwith to the rank of Casecracker.
With this task completed we abandoned all thoughts of collecting loot and begin a tactical withdrawal to the nearest exits, losing 2 valiant crewmen to the Cybers.
Escape pods were located and fired then I gave the honour of activating the EMP to Aelson.
We all watch as the Station went dark – it rankles that our sacrifices will make looting the place easier for the incoming pirates, but that is how the dice have fallen.
Returning to Bedriften it transpired that Chief Ageson had been concealing a grave injury, a crushed arm, which will impede his hand to hand combat in the future.
He laughed this off, stating ‘ I’ll just have to improve my shooting’; knowing Svend he will indeed improve his shooting, I also expect him to work to regain lost melee skills and improve his innate powers too.
Now that full systems checks are nearly completed I prepare to head to the Phoenix Quadrant to seek some lucrative work for us, we could certainly use the coin and we don’t want our skills to rust.
20220621_141317 by
markndebs, on Flickr
20220621_141240 by
markndebs, on Flickr
20220621_141229 by
markndebs, on Flickr